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Maiden's Creek #2
The Goldminer's Sister
'There are people in this town with the gleam of gold in their eyes and cold steel in their hearts.'
Drawn by her brother's promise of a fresh start in Australia, Eliza Penrose journeys from England to the gold-mining town of Maiden's Creek, only to arrive in the shadow of tragedy.
Finding herself alone and friendless in a town where answers about her brother's fate remain frustratingly elusive, Eliza seizes an unexpected chance to establish herself as the settlement's schoolteacher.
Among the townspeople she encounters is Alec McLeod, the mine's engineer and her brother's friend, who still carries the memory and guilt of his wife's death. Though he's rebuffed the attention of every eligible woman in town, Alec finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Eliza—an attraction complicated by a promise he made to her brother.
While Alec struggles between his growing feelings for Eliza and his obligations to the mine and its men, Eliza delves into the mystery surrounding her brother’s death. As secrets, lies, and betrayals circle around them, both Alec and Eliza are drawn deeper into the town's web of secrets.
When disaster strikes the mine, the truths begins to surface. The revelations come at a heavy price, and Eliza and Alec risk losing everything they have fought for, including their lives.
With time running out and stakes rising, will their newfound bond be enough to overcome the forces threatening to tear them apart?
"Meticulously researched, Alison imbues this tale with a sense of era and place. I was transported to late nineteenth century rural Victoria… Alison Stuart has struck gold with The Goldminer’s Sister. History, mystery and romance. She really has hit her stride as a fabulous storyteller and historical novelist." (Better Reading)
Drawn by her brother's promise of a fresh start in Australia, Eliza Penrose journeys from England to the gold-mining town of Maiden's Creek, only to arrive in the shadow of tragedy.
Finding herself alone and friendless in a town where answers about her brother's fate remain frustratingly elusive, Eliza seizes an unexpected chance to establish herself as the settlement's schoolteacher.
Among the townspeople she encounters is Alec McLeod, the mine's engineer and her brother's friend, who still carries the memory and guilt of his wife's death. Though he's rebuffed the attention of every eligible woman in town, Alec finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Eliza—an attraction complicated by a promise he made to her brother.
While Alec struggles between his growing feelings for Eliza and his obligations to the mine and its men, Eliza delves into the mystery surrounding her brother’s death. As secrets, lies, and betrayals circle around them, both Alec and Eliza are drawn deeper into the town's web of secrets.
When disaster strikes the mine, the truths begins to surface. The revelations come at a heavy price, and Eliza and Alec risk losing everything they have fought for, including their lives.
With time running out and stakes rising, will their newfound bond be enough to overcome the forces threatening to tear them apart?
"Meticulously researched, Alison imbues this tale with a sense of era and place. I was transported to late nineteenth century rural Victoria… Alison Stuart has struck gold with The Goldminer’s Sister. History, mystery and romance. She really has hit her stride as a fabulous storyteller and historical novelist." (Better Reading)
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2025
About the author
Alison Stuart
26 books368 followersMystery, history, romance and more…
Alison Stuart writes historical romances and short stories set in England and Australia and across different periods of history. She is best known for THE POSTMISTRESS and THE GOLDMINER'S SISTER, stories set in the Victorian goldfields in the 1870s.
She also writes historical mysteries as A.M. Stuart and her popular Harriet Gordon mystery series is set in Singapore in 1910.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and a geriatric cat. In a past life Alison worked as a lawyer across a variety of disciplines including the military and emergency services. She has lived in Africa and Singapore and, when circumstances permit, travels extensively - all for research of course!
(This writer is NOT the Alison Stuart who also writes as Kate Tremayne and authored Fateful Shadows, Sin No More, Barefoot Angel, Innocence Betrayed or Loyalty Defiled.)
Alison Stuart writes historical romances and short stories set in England and Australia and across different periods of history. She is best known for THE POSTMISTRESS and THE GOLDMINER'S SISTER, stories set in the Victorian goldfields in the 1870s.
She also writes historical mysteries as A.M. Stuart and her popular Harriet Gordon mystery series is set in Singapore in 1910.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and a geriatric cat. In a past life Alison worked as a lawyer across a variety of disciplines including the military and emergency services. She has lived in Africa and Singapore and, when circumstances permit, travels extensively - all for research of course!
(This writer is NOT the Alison Stuart who also writes as Kate Tremayne and authored Fateful Shadows, Sin No More, Barefoot Angel, Innocence Betrayed or Loyalty Defiled.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
June 7, 2020
Alison Stewart writes really good historical fiction and this book is no exception.
The Goldminer's Sister is based on a young English miner who leaves the failing Cornish tin mines to go to the Australian goldfields. Five years later he sends for his sister to join him as he feels he is successful and established enough to provide them both with a future. Sadly during the course of her long sea crossing the situation changes radically and the story tells of how she survives and overcomes many disasters.
The author has certainly done her research. There are facts aplenty about mining, the construction of the mines as well as the retrieval of the gold. The fictional mining town of Maiden's Creek is based on an real town and the mine disaster on an actual historic event. There is also a lot of detail about how it was to live and work in those times. Thank goodness we have come a long, long way in the areas of education and child birth.
I enjoyed all of the characters both main and minor and thought the romance was believable and nicely written. Altogether everything I expect from a book written by this author and I look forward to what she produces next!
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Goldminer's Sister is based on a young English miner who leaves the failing Cornish tin mines to go to the Australian goldfields. Five years later he sends for his sister to join him as he feels he is successful and established enough to provide them both with a future. Sadly during the course of her long sea crossing the situation changes radically and the story tells of how she survives and overcomes many disasters.
The author has certainly done her research. There are facts aplenty about mining, the construction of the mines as well as the retrieval of the gold. The fictional mining town of Maiden's Creek is based on an real town and the mine disaster on an actual historic event. There is also a lot of detail about how it was to live and work in those times. Thank goodness we have come a long, long way in the areas of education and child birth.
I enjoyed all of the characters both main and minor and thought the romance was believable and nicely written. Altogether everything I expect from a book written by this author and I look forward to what she produces next!
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 6, 2020
When Eliza Penrose finally arrived in the Victorian town of Maiden’s Creek after long, arduous travel from England, she was looking forward to seeing the brother she hadn’t seen in the five years since he’d left home. Now, with her mother passed, she’d come to join William so they could forge a future together as part owners of the Shenandoah gold mine near Maiden’s Creek. But when she learned how circumstances had changed, Eliza was shattered; a strong young woman, she was determined to find her own way forward.
Alec McLeod oversaw the Maiden’s Creek mine under the owner, Eliza’s uncle, Charles Cowper and as a mining engineer plus from a family of miners in Scotland, he knew safety and caution in mining was paramount. Alec knew his boss was cutting corners, but he wouldn’t see reason. As Alec fought for what was right, Eliza was discovering a spider-web of secrets and lies, which would no doubt put her in danger as she searched for answers. What would be the outcome for Eliza and Alec in the small community of Maiden’s Creek?
The Goldminer’s Sister is the follow on from The Postmistress which was set in 1871. The Goldminer’s Sister is set in 1873 and continues on in the fictional town of Maiden’s Creek, which is based on a small town in Gippsland, Victoria, where gold fever made all who searched, wish for its riches. Aussie author Alison Stuart’s research is meticulous and her historical novels an absolute delight to read. This one was exceptional, with heart rushing suspense, light, well written romance, and strong women characters. Highly recommended.
With thanks to HarperCollins AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Alec McLeod oversaw the Maiden’s Creek mine under the owner, Eliza’s uncle, Charles Cowper and as a mining engineer plus from a family of miners in Scotland, he knew safety and caution in mining was paramount. Alec knew his boss was cutting corners, but he wouldn’t see reason. As Alec fought for what was right, Eliza was discovering a spider-web of secrets and lies, which would no doubt put her in danger as she searched for answers. What would be the outcome for Eliza and Alec in the small community of Maiden’s Creek?
The Goldminer’s Sister is the follow on from The Postmistress which was set in 1871. The Goldminer’s Sister is set in 1873 and continues on in the fictional town of Maiden’s Creek, which is based on a small town in Gippsland, Victoria, where gold fever made all who searched, wish for its riches. Aussie author Alison Stuart’s research is meticulous and her historical novels an absolute delight to read. This one was exceptional, with heart rushing suspense, light, well written romance, and strong women characters. Highly recommended.
With thanks to HarperCollins AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2020
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
**4.5 stars**
The Goldminer's Sister by Alison Stuart. (2020).
**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review; published 8 July 2020**
In 1873 Eliza arrives in the goldmining town of Maiden's Creek in search of her brother but instead she finds a tragic mystery and hints of betrayals by those closest to her. Mining engineer Alec left Scotland to escape the memory of his dead wife and child and despite the best efforts of eligible ladies, he is determined never to give his heart again. As lies and deceit threaten Eliza's life, Alec steps in although he has his own problems at the Maiden's Creek Mine.
When disaster draws the pieces of the puzzle together, Eliza and Alec must save each other - but is it too late?
I find myself reading more and more of Australian historical fiction and it's because of books like this one. After reading this author's previous novel (The Postmistress) and really enjoying it, I was definitely keen to read this book (and kept seeing amazing reviews for it). Thankfully it more than lived up to the hype! Readers who have read The Postmistress will note some familiar characters and I found that to be a lovely touch; however you don't need to have read that book to read and enjoy this one. I find this author's style really engaging; both books I've read I've been really drawn into the story which is a mixture of history, drama and light romance, and felt so invested in the main character's lives. I love that the female leads are such strong and intelligent characters. If you are a fan of historical fiction, please make sure you don't miss out on this excellent novel.
**4.5 stars**
The Goldminer's Sister by Alison Stuart. (2020).
**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review; published 8 July 2020**
In 1873 Eliza arrives in the goldmining town of Maiden's Creek in search of her brother but instead she finds a tragic mystery and hints of betrayals by those closest to her. Mining engineer Alec left Scotland to escape the memory of his dead wife and child and despite the best efforts of eligible ladies, he is determined never to give his heart again. As lies and deceit threaten Eliza's life, Alec steps in although he has his own problems at the Maiden's Creek Mine.
When disaster draws the pieces of the puzzle together, Eliza and Alec must save each other - but is it too late?
I find myself reading more and more of Australian historical fiction and it's because of books like this one. After reading this author's previous novel (The Postmistress) and really enjoying it, I was definitely keen to read this book (and kept seeing amazing reviews for it). Thankfully it more than lived up to the hype! Readers who have read The Postmistress will note some familiar characters and I found that to be a lovely touch; however you don't need to have read that book to read and enjoy this one. I find this author's style really engaging; both books I've read I've been really drawn into the story which is a mixture of history, drama and light romance, and felt so invested in the main character's lives. I love that the female leads are such strong and intelligent characters. If you are a fan of historical fiction, please make sure you don't miss out on this excellent novel.
March 8, 2022
The Goldminer's Sister by Alison Stuart
Synopsis /
1873. Eliza Penrose arrives in the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek in search of her brother, planning to make a new life for herself. Instead she finds a tragic mystery - and hints of betrayals by those closest to her.
Mining engineer Alec McLeod left Scotland to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. Despite the best efforts of the eligible ladies of Maiden's Creek, Alec is determined never to give his heart again.
As lies and deceit threaten Eliza's life, Alec steps in - although he has problems of his own, as he risks his livelihood and those he holds dear to oppose the dangerous work practices at the Maiden's Creek Mine.
When disaster draws the pieces of the puzzle together, Eliza and Alec must save each other - but is it too late?
My Thoughts /
‘There are people in this town with the gleam of gold in their eyes and cold steel in their hearts.’
If you don't want to read any further, I can sum up my experience reading this book in six words. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.
The Goldminer's Sister is written by Australian author, Alison Stuart and gives us a glimpse back in time to what it might have been like in Colonial Australia. Set in 1873, in a small fictional gold mining settlement called Maiden's Creek, located in Gippsland in the state of Victoria, The Goldminer's Sister introduces us to our protagonist, Eliza Penrose.
For anyone who has read and enjoyed The Postmistress by Alison Stuart; The Goldminer's Sister, whilst not exactly a 'sequel' to that book, has a lot of similarities. It is set in the same Victorian gold mining settlement of Maiden’s Creek (which is based on a real town called Walhalla - and was at one time home to over 4000 gold seekers) and we again meet many of the same townsfolk who were part of that story, including Eliza’s brother, Will Penrose.
Travelling from her home in the UK, Eliza Penrose journeys to Australia with the hope of being reunited with her beloved brother, William. Where, Will has been tirelessly working to establish his own mine, The Shenandoah. In Will's letters to Eliza he has corresponded that he believes The Shenandoah will turn the family's finances around, and, it is his hope that she should come and join him as soon as she is able.
However, when she arrives, Eliza is met with heartbreak - her beloved brother has died. The events surrounding her brother's death are a mystery, one which Eliza is determined to solve. To get to the truth about her brother's death, Eliza will have to weave through a path of betrayals, deceit, secrets, superstition and societal racism. Eliza (Miss Penrose) is a fabulously strong and determined woman, who pushes on despite the surrounding agitation from members of the local community and the mine workers. Her dogged determination to pursue the truth is what endears her to the reader and you find yourself willing her to succeed.
Mining Engineer, Alec McLeod arrived in Maiden's Creek from Scotland, where he fled trying to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. Alec is determined to never fall in love again, despite the best efforts of the single women of Maiden’s Creek, that is, until he set eyes on Eliza Penrose.
Whilst the mystery surrounding Will Penrose's death is surely the main thread - there are other side stories, and characters that the author introduces. Which on the face of it, come across as seemingly not that important but later on prove vital for one reason or another. Options for future books? I’d definitely be interested. The Goldminer’s Sister contains the perfect blended recipe of romance + mystery + action and history. The romance element was intertwined nicely within the narrative and was not overdone. It never overtook the main event but was just enough to make your heart flutter. And the historical description of Australia's mining past was well researched and written.
Synopsis /
1873. Eliza Penrose arrives in the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek in search of her brother, planning to make a new life for herself. Instead she finds a tragic mystery - and hints of betrayals by those closest to her.
Mining engineer Alec McLeod left Scotland to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. Despite the best efforts of the eligible ladies of Maiden's Creek, Alec is determined never to give his heart again.
As lies and deceit threaten Eliza's life, Alec steps in - although he has problems of his own, as he risks his livelihood and those he holds dear to oppose the dangerous work practices at the Maiden's Creek Mine.
When disaster draws the pieces of the puzzle together, Eliza and Alec must save each other - but is it too late?
My Thoughts /
‘There are people in this town with the gleam of gold in their eyes and cold steel in their hearts.’
If you don't want to read any further, I can sum up my experience reading this book in six words. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.
The Goldminer's Sister is written by Australian author, Alison Stuart and gives us a glimpse back in time to what it might have been like in Colonial Australia. Set in 1873, in a small fictional gold mining settlement called Maiden's Creek, located in Gippsland in the state of Victoria, The Goldminer's Sister introduces us to our protagonist, Eliza Penrose.
For anyone who has read and enjoyed The Postmistress by Alison Stuart; The Goldminer's Sister, whilst not exactly a 'sequel' to that book, has a lot of similarities. It is set in the same Victorian gold mining settlement of Maiden’s Creek (which is based on a real town called Walhalla - and was at one time home to over 4000 gold seekers) and we again meet many of the same townsfolk who were part of that story, including Eliza’s brother, Will Penrose.
Travelling from her home in the UK, Eliza Penrose journeys to Australia with the hope of being reunited with her beloved brother, William. Where, Will has been tirelessly working to establish his own mine, The Shenandoah. In Will's letters to Eliza he has corresponded that he believes The Shenandoah will turn the family's finances around, and, it is his hope that she should come and join him as soon as she is able.
However, when she arrives, Eliza is met with heartbreak - her beloved brother has died. The events surrounding her brother's death are a mystery, one which Eliza is determined to solve. To get to the truth about her brother's death, Eliza will have to weave through a path of betrayals, deceit, secrets, superstition and societal racism. Eliza (Miss Penrose) is a fabulously strong and determined woman, who pushes on despite the surrounding agitation from members of the local community and the mine workers. Her dogged determination to pursue the truth is what endears her to the reader and you find yourself willing her to succeed.
Mining Engineer, Alec McLeod arrived in Maiden's Creek from Scotland, where he fled trying to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. Alec is determined to never fall in love again, despite the best efforts of the single women of Maiden’s Creek, that is, until he set eyes on Eliza Penrose.
Whilst the mystery surrounding Will Penrose's death is surely the main thread - there are other side stories, and characters that the author introduces. Which on the face of it, come across as seemingly not that important but later on prove vital for one reason or another. Options for future books? I’d definitely be interested. The Goldminer’s Sister contains the perfect blended recipe of romance + mystery + action and history. The romance element was intertwined nicely within the narrative and was not overdone. It never overtook the main event but was just enough to make your heart flutter. And the historical description of Australia's mining past was well researched and written.
September 14, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Australia and Alison Stuart for my copy of: The Goldminer’s Sister.
1873, after a very long journey from England Eliza Penrose arrives in the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek in Australia it’s been five years since she last saw her brother William and she’s excited to see him. When she arrives at her uncle’s Charles Cowper house she’s receives some very bad news about Will and she’s in total shock.
Alec McLeod left Scotland to escape the memories of losing his wife and baby in childbirth. The eligible ladies of Maiden's Creek have been fluttering their eyelashes at him for years; he finds some solace in the bottom of a whiskey bottle, he lives with his single brother Ian and he never wants to get married again.
He and Eliza meet on the day she arrives in town, not the best of starts, but the Scotsman finds Eliza rather bonny and tries his best to ignore how attractive she is. Alec works at the Maiden’s Creek mine as an engineer, he’s concerned at the way it’s being run by Eliza’s uncle and he thinks Charles is up to no good. Eliza and Alec can’t ignore obvious errors in the gold mines account books, they have concerns over the mines safety and they put themselves in danger to find out what really happened to Eliza’s brother.
Eliza has a kind heart and a strong spirit and she and Alec make the perfect couple. I enjoyed reading about her being the teacher at the local school and her kindness to one of her students called Charlotte. The story has aspects of mystery, suspense, danger we have all heard of gold fever, it makes people greedy and break the law. I enjoyed reading The Goldminer’s Sister, I have shared my review on Goodreads, NetGalley, Australian Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Twitter, my blog and I gave the book four stars. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
1873, after a very long journey from England Eliza Penrose arrives in the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek in Australia it’s been five years since she last saw her brother William and she’s excited to see him. When she arrives at her uncle’s Charles Cowper house she’s receives some very bad news about Will and she’s in total shock.
Alec McLeod left Scotland to escape the memories of losing his wife and baby in childbirth. The eligible ladies of Maiden's Creek have been fluttering their eyelashes at him for years; he finds some solace in the bottom of a whiskey bottle, he lives with his single brother Ian and he never wants to get married again.
He and Eliza meet on the day she arrives in town, not the best of starts, but the Scotsman finds Eliza rather bonny and tries his best to ignore how attractive she is. Alec works at the Maiden’s Creek mine as an engineer, he’s concerned at the way it’s being run by Eliza’s uncle and he thinks Charles is up to no good. Eliza and Alec can’t ignore obvious errors in the gold mines account books, they have concerns over the mines safety and they put themselves in danger to find out what really happened to Eliza’s brother.
Eliza has a kind heart and a strong spirit and she and Alec make the perfect couple. I enjoyed reading about her being the teacher at the local school and her kindness to one of her students called Charlotte. The story has aspects of mystery, suspense, danger we have all heard of gold fever, it makes people greedy and break the law. I enjoyed reading The Goldminer’s Sister, I have shared my review on Goodreads, NetGalley, Australian Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Twitter, my blog and I gave the book four stars. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
March 7, 2022
This is the first book I have read by Alison Stuart and I am looking forward to reading more.
Set in the late 1800's in the fictional town of 'Maiden's Creek' (based on Walhalla) in the gold mining times of Victoria, Eliza Penrose is newly arrived from England. However, far from being a new start, Eliza is quickly heartbroken and left wondering what to do with her future, finding her brother who had set out to Australia several years before her has recently fallen to his death.
Eliza is able to stay with her maternal Uncle, who soon makes it clear that it is a temporary arrangement and he is keen for her to move to Melbourne.
The story raises questions over her brother's death and the motives of her Uncle, who appears to be the beneficiary of her brother's will. Eliza finds herself in a predicament and quickly needs to learn who she can trust to assist her get to the bottom of what has happened.
Set in the late 1800's in the fictional town of 'Maiden's Creek' (based on Walhalla) in the gold mining times of Victoria, Eliza Penrose is newly arrived from England. However, far from being a new start, Eliza is quickly heartbroken and left wondering what to do with her future, finding her brother who had set out to Australia several years before her has recently fallen to his death.
Eliza is able to stay with her maternal Uncle, who soon makes it clear that it is a temporary arrangement and he is keen for her to move to Melbourne.
The story raises questions over her brother's death and the motives of her Uncle, who appears to be the beneficiary of her brother's will. Eliza finds herself in a predicament and quickly needs to learn who she can trust to assist her get to the bottom of what has happened.
June 8, 2020
I have recently discovered historical fiction, and found that I really enjoy it. Especially stories set in Australia. The Gold Miner's Sister was a wonderful story that had me transported back to 1873 rural Victoria. Alison Stuart brought the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek to life with her vibrant characters and descriptions of the beautiful landscapes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the past.
Eliza Penrose has travelled from England to see her brother Will after 5 long years. Only when she arrives things are not as she expected them to be. What she finds is a town full of secrets, betrayal and lies. Alec McLeod is also new to town, travelling from Scotland after losing his wife and daughter. His heart is broken and he vows to never give it away again.
There is romance, there is action and there is struggle. Being a woman in 1873 was not easy, thankfully we have come along way in changing things. Stories and characters in this book are based on reality. Fans of this genre will love it.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Eliza Penrose has travelled from England to see her brother Will after 5 long years. Only when she arrives things are not as she expected them to be. What she finds is a town full of secrets, betrayal and lies. Alec McLeod is also new to town, travelling from Scotland after losing his wife and daughter. His heart is broken and he vows to never give it away again.
There is romance, there is action and there is struggle. Being a woman in 1873 was not easy, thankfully we have come along way in changing things. Stories and characters in this book are based on reality. Fans of this genre will love it.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
December 29, 2022
A rural Australian story set in the 1870's goldrush era. With a romance and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Eliza, a young woman in Cornwall makes the arduous journey to Australia following a letter from her brother with an exciting prospect of fortune at a mine in Victoria. However when Eliza arrives to Maiden's Creek the prospects are looking far different than she ever imagined. The small town has a variety of residents with different faiths, living arrangements and personalities. The story follows Eliza on her journey of finding friends and people she can trust in a new country with dangerous animals and even more dangerous people.
Maiden's Creek is loosely based on the Long Tunnel Mine in Gippsland, Victoria. I learnt a lot about the gold rush era in the 1800's. Everything from the schooling, community, faith and treatment of the lower class made for a very interesting read that kept me entertained. The characters were a massive highlight to the story, all individually unique and adding a lot of value to the story.
Many thanks to Harlequin Australia for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
Eliza, a young woman in Cornwall makes the arduous journey to Australia following a letter from her brother with an exciting prospect of fortune at a mine in Victoria. However when Eliza arrives to Maiden's Creek the prospects are looking far different than she ever imagined. The small town has a variety of residents with different faiths, living arrangements and personalities. The story follows Eliza on her journey of finding friends and people she can trust in a new country with dangerous animals and even more dangerous people.
Maiden's Creek is loosely based on the Long Tunnel Mine in Gippsland, Victoria. I learnt a lot about the gold rush era in the 1800's. Everything from the schooling, community, faith and treatment of the lower class made for a very interesting read that kept me entertained. The characters were a massive highlight to the story, all individually unique and adding a lot of value to the story.
"Born and Bred in this country," he said. "Or Tasmania at least. Not sure whether we Tasmanians consider ourselves Australian or not. We're something of a law unto ourselves"
Many thanks to Harlequin Australia for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 8, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
'Please don’t patronise me, Uncle. I am not a girl. I am twenty five years old and I have been making my own way in the world for the last five years.’
Family, love, loyalty, mystery and plenty of determination comes into play in Alison Stuart’s The Goldminer’s Sister. A glimpse back in time to colonial Australia, we bear witness to the compelling journey of Eliza Penrose as she works to uncover the plot of betrayal and intrigue surrounding her brother’s mysterious death. I have a great deal of respect for this author and historical fiction title, The Goldminer’s Sister was a five star read.
The Goldminer’s Sister regales the consuming tale of a young woman who hopes that her journey from the UK to Australia will unite her with her beloved brother. However, when Eliza sets foot on Australia’s shores, a tragic accident has seen her brother lose his life. Eliza is incredibly loyal and protective of her brother and she knows that his death was not accidental, it was clearly intentional. Eliza is deeply suspicious of someone close to her, who she believes was involved in her brother’s death. While searching for answers to her brother’s untimely death, Eliza is acquainted with Alec McLeod, a mining engineer specialist who has settled in the town of Maiden’s Creek from Scotland. The two make a tentative connection, but Alec keeps his heart locked, still grieving over the loss of his wife and child back in Scotland. When the mine where Eliza’s brother worked takes some dangerous and underhanded steps in its operations, lives are put at risk. Eliza and Alec must work together to expose the lies, deceit and treachery of the mine before more lives are lost. Can they also find love in the process?
What a superb example of a well versed Australian historical fiction title The Goldminer’s Sister turned out to be! I enjoyed absolutely every moment of this book, I savored every page and I didn’t want this wonderful story to end. Alison Stuart has a brand new fan and I will be making a concerted effort to ensure that I pick up every single new Alison Stuart title as soon as it is released.
Alison Stuart is a fantastic Australian storyteller and she is a real asset to the Australian historical fiction industry. The Goldminer’s Sister is padded out by plenty of rich and detailed historical research, which can be evidenced both through the stunning narrative, but also in the accompanying author’s note. I was completely absorbed in the period detail, historical information and location specific descriptions featured in The Goldminer’s Sister. The only thing that could top this novel would be a firsthand visit to the site of the area in which the fictional town of Maiden’s Creek is set. I can only hope that this will happen once our state borders open again!
What a formidable force Eliza Penrose proved to be! A pioneer and trailblazer of this era, it wasn’t an easy time to be a woman, especially an enterprising one at that. I admired Eliza’s can-do attitude, her relentless pursuit for justice for her brother’s killer and her inability to give up on her mission to bring the mine’s underhanded operations to ransom. What an inspiring historical heroine! Stuart does a magnificent job of illuminating her leads, along with the minor characters. Each was so carefully drawn that I felt like I knew them inside and out.
The Goldminer’s Sister contains the perfect blend of romance, mystery, action and history. The romance was intertwined nicely within the narrative, so it never overtook the main events, but it was just enough to make my heart beat a little faster. The action and intrigue is also integrated very well within the unfolding narrative. I enjoyed the thrills and tension this aspect of the story provided. The history, along with the focus on the lack of rights, free choice and constraints on women at this time was highlighted extremely well by Alison Stuart.
With an astonishing link to Australia’s mining past, The Goldminer’s Sister proved to be an absolute winner.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Goldminer’s Sister is book #77 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
'Please don’t patronise me, Uncle. I am not a girl. I am twenty five years old and I have been making my own way in the world for the last five years.’
Family, love, loyalty, mystery and plenty of determination comes into play in Alison Stuart’s The Goldminer’s Sister. A glimpse back in time to colonial Australia, we bear witness to the compelling journey of Eliza Penrose as she works to uncover the plot of betrayal and intrigue surrounding her brother’s mysterious death. I have a great deal of respect for this author and historical fiction title, The Goldminer’s Sister was a five star read.
The Goldminer’s Sister regales the consuming tale of a young woman who hopes that her journey from the UK to Australia will unite her with her beloved brother. However, when Eliza sets foot on Australia’s shores, a tragic accident has seen her brother lose his life. Eliza is incredibly loyal and protective of her brother and she knows that his death was not accidental, it was clearly intentional. Eliza is deeply suspicious of someone close to her, who she believes was involved in her brother’s death. While searching for answers to her brother’s untimely death, Eliza is acquainted with Alec McLeod, a mining engineer specialist who has settled in the town of Maiden’s Creek from Scotland. The two make a tentative connection, but Alec keeps his heart locked, still grieving over the loss of his wife and child back in Scotland. When the mine where Eliza’s brother worked takes some dangerous and underhanded steps in its operations, lives are put at risk. Eliza and Alec must work together to expose the lies, deceit and treachery of the mine before more lives are lost. Can they also find love in the process?
What a superb example of a well versed Australian historical fiction title The Goldminer’s Sister turned out to be! I enjoyed absolutely every moment of this book, I savored every page and I didn’t want this wonderful story to end. Alison Stuart has a brand new fan and I will be making a concerted effort to ensure that I pick up every single new Alison Stuart title as soon as it is released.
Alison Stuart is a fantastic Australian storyteller and she is a real asset to the Australian historical fiction industry. The Goldminer’s Sister is padded out by plenty of rich and detailed historical research, which can be evidenced both through the stunning narrative, but also in the accompanying author’s note. I was completely absorbed in the period detail, historical information and location specific descriptions featured in The Goldminer’s Sister. The only thing that could top this novel would be a firsthand visit to the site of the area in which the fictional town of Maiden’s Creek is set. I can only hope that this will happen once our state borders open again!
What a formidable force Eliza Penrose proved to be! A pioneer and trailblazer of this era, it wasn’t an easy time to be a woman, especially an enterprising one at that. I admired Eliza’s can-do attitude, her relentless pursuit for justice for her brother’s killer and her inability to give up on her mission to bring the mine’s underhanded operations to ransom. What an inspiring historical heroine! Stuart does a magnificent job of illuminating her leads, along with the minor characters. Each was so carefully drawn that I felt like I knew them inside and out.
The Goldminer’s Sister contains the perfect blend of romance, mystery, action and history. The romance was intertwined nicely within the narrative, so it never overtook the main events, but it was just enough to make my heart beat a little faster. The action and intrigue is also integrated very well within the unfolding narrative. I enjoyed the thrills and tension this aspect of the story provided. The history, along with the focus on the lack of rights, free choice and constraints on women at this time was highlighted extremely well by Alison Stuart.
With an astonishing link to Australia’s mining past, The Goldminer’s Sister proved to be an absolute winner.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Goldminer’s Sister is book #77 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
June 3, 2022
Book #2 in the Maiden’s Creek trilogy.
It is in the year of 1873 when Eliza Penrose travels across the globe on her own to reach her final destination at the Australian goldfields.
After a long and arduous journey, first by ship from England and then by various modes of transport, she finally arrives at the gold mining town of Maiden’s Creek in Victoria’s goldfields, excited to be met there by her beloved brother.
Eliza’s brother Will wrote to her about his successful ventures into a promising gold mine holding and invited her to come to Australia to start a new life there where he is now able to accommodate and provide for a better life for her.
Now that both of their parents are dead Eliza has no other family or financial means to sustain her, except for her brother Will and a wealthy uncle who also lives at Maiden’s Creek…owning and operating several other lucrative gold mines in Victoria.
Recent bad weather has made for a treacherous journey by coach and horses and Eliza is exhausted by the time they finally arrive at the place where her brother should be waiting for her…only he is not there.
Now is the time to make a cuppa and settle in for a good riveting read!
Although this book follows on from *The Postmistress, it could still be read as a stand alone, though you would be missing out on the fuller experience of the story as the characters move on and grow into their evolving lives.
By the time I had finished reading *The Postmistress I was keen to follow onto this next book to see how those characters I’d grown fond of had fared, likewise I am now eager for the third book ‘The Homecoming’ which I understand is due for release in January 2023.
I now have that one on my radar and look forward to reading it also.
I think Alison Stuart has a knack for this kind of storytelling. As a reader I was easily pulled into the story and quickly formed alliances among the diverse characters with their uniquely individual and fascinating roles.
I admire authors who can draw, and maintain, such intricate personalities for their characters that the reader subconsciously forms opinions of them.
To give such depth of character to individuals…especially when there are many…is I believe, a special skill in a writer. A skill that I think Alison Stuart is very adept at, not just for the traits of the people in her stories, but also for their surroundings.
Every scene is described in enough detail to give a stimulating picture of the unfolding events without distracting the reader with too much clutter of information. There is no ‘padding out’ to fill the pages, it’s all interesting story facts and character driven events.
This is what keeps me turning the pages until long after my… ‘just one more chapter’ promises to myself!
I really enjoyed reading these two books back to back and have definitely added the third to my wish list.
Historical fiction is my first love...especially Australian historical fiction! I truly hope Alison Stuart writes more like this, as I think I could become a big fan.
*The Postmistress is the first book in this trilogy.
#2 The Goldminer’s Sister
#3 The Homecoming
5⭐️s
It is in the year of 1873 when Eliza Penrose travels across the globe on her own to reach her final destination at the Australian goldfields.
After a long and arduous journey, first by ship from England and then by various modes of transport, she finally arrives at the gold mining town of Maiden’s Creek in Victoria’s goldfields, excited to be met there by her beloved brother.
Eliza’s brother Will wrote to her about his successful ventures into a promising gold mine holding and invited her to come to Australia to start a new life there where he is now able to accommodate and provide for a better life for her.
Now that both of their parents are dead Eliza has no other family or financial means to sustain her, except for her brother Will and a wealthy uncle who also lives at Maiden’s Creek…owning and operating several other lucrative gold mines in Victoria.
Recent bad weather has made for a treacherous journey by coach and horses and Eliza is exhausted by the time they finally arrive at the place where her brother should be waiting for her…only he is not there.
Now is the time to make a cuppa and settle in for a good riveting read!
Although this book follows on from *The Postmistress, it could still be read as a stand alone, though you would be missing out on the fuller experience of the story as the characters move on and grow into their evolving lives.
By the time I had finished reading *The Postmistress I was keen to follow onto this next book to see how those characters I’d grown fond of had fared, likewise I am now eager for the third book ‘The Homecoming’ which I understand is due for release in January 2023.
I now have that one on my radar and look forward to reading it also.
I think Alison Stuart has a knack for this kind of storytelling. As a reader I was easily pulled into the story and quickly formed alliances among the diverse characters with their uniquely individual and fascinating roles.
I admire authors who can draw, and maintain, such intricate personalities for their characters that the reader subconsciously forms opinions of them.
To give such depth of character to individuals…especially when there are many…is I believe, a special skill in a writer. A skill that I think Alison Stuart is very adept at, not just for the traits of the people in her stories, but also for their surroundings.
Every scene is described in enough detail to give a stimulating picture of the unfolding events without distracting the reader with too much clutter of information. There is no ‘padding out’ to fill the pages, it’s all interesting story facts and character driven events.
This is what keeps me turning the pages until long after my… ‘just one more chapter’ promises to myself!
I really enjoyed reading these two books back to back and have definitely added the third to my wish list.
Historical fiction is my first love...especially Australian historical fiction! I truly hope Alison Stuart writes more like this, as I think I could become a big fan.
*The Postmistress is the first book in this trilogy.
#2 The Goldminer’s Sister
#3 The Homecoming
5⭐️s
July 3, 2020
ARC received from Harlequin/Mira Australia for an honest review
I have lost a bit of my reading mojo lately, however when I picked up The Goldminer's Sister, it was back with a vengeance baby!
Australian historicals have been my jam the last 6 - 12 months. Alison Stuart is a new to me author, however after reading this story, I will be searching out more in the future.
Eliza is the kind of woman I want to be when I grow up. She doesn't need a man to look after her. She is strong. She is feisty. She will fight for the truth and for what is hers.
I was transported to the Victorian goldfields the minute I opened The Goldminer's Sister. Hot, dusty and dangerous, so different from my world and Eliza's world in the UK. Ms Stuart has written wonderfully colourful characters and locations that leap off the page. I could almost hear and smell the town of Maiden's Creek (though I am sure the smell would not be such a good thing!).
I couldn't help but fall in love with Eliza and Alec as they deal with all that is happening around the - and to them.
Alec is the gruff kind of man that calls to me. I need to find an Alec for myself.
I was enthralled with this tale. Every time I put the book down, I found myself eyeing it beside me, and in the end I just had to read it all at one.
I look forward to what Ms Stuart brings us in the future.
I have lost a bit of my reading mojo lately, however when I picked up The Goldminer's Sister, it was back with a vengeance baby!
Australian historicals have been my jam the last 6 - 12 months. Alison Stuart is a new to me author, however after reading this story, I will be searching out more in the future.
Eliza is the kind of woman I want to be when I grow up. She doesn't need a man to look after her. She is strong. She is feisty. She will fight for the truth and for what is hers.
I was transported to the Victorian goldfields the minute I opened The Goldminer's Sister. Hot, dusty and dangerous, so different from my world and Eliza's world in the UK. Ms Stuart has written wonderfully colourful characters and locations that leap off the page. I could almost hear and smell the town of Maiden's Creek (though I am sure the smell would not be such a good thing!).
I couldn't help but fall in love with Eliza and Alec as they deal with all that is happening around the - and to them.
Alec is the gruff kind of man that calls to me. I need to find an Alec for myself.
I was enthralled with this tale. Every time I put the book down, I found myself eyeing it beside me, and in the end I just had to read it all at one.
I look forward to what Ms Stuart brings us in the future.
November 29, 2023
Find more reviews at: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
In The Goldminer's Sister, Alison Stuart deftly evokes the attitudes and nuances of 1800's Australia.
Set in the goldfields of country Victoria, Stuart depicts the small towns of the late 1800's with startling clarity.
Eliza sails from the UK to Australia, after her mother's death, to be with her brother, Will. It isn't until she arrives in Maiden's Creek that she learns of her brother's accidental death and her Uncle offers her lodgings.
Eliza's curiosity over her brother's death starts to mount as she gets to know more people in the town and she begins to wonder why her uncle is so keen to be rid of her.
Mysteries start to appear right from the start of the book and as the story progresses the mysteries deepen and an element of suspense is added. The Goldmines are a dangerous place for women however Eliza will not back down, she is outspoken and feisty. Stuart's characterisation is perfect, Eliza is well formed and believable.
The introduction of Alec, a man of honour, Will's friend and mine manager, gives a good balance to the other lecherous men and introduces an element of romance.
The Goldminer's Sister is a fabulous read, rich in mystery and danger, theft and deception, showing how profit quite often came before people's lives.
In The Goldminer's Sister, Alison Stuart deftly evokes the attitudes and nuances of 1800's Australia.
Set in the goldfields of country Victoria, Stuart depicts the small towns of the late 1800's with startling clarity.
Eliza sails from the UK to Australia, after her mother's death, to be with her brother, Will. It isn't until she arrives in Maiden's Creek that she learns of her brother's accidental death and her Uncle offers her lodgings.
Eliza's curiosity over her brother's death starts to mount as she gets to know more people in the town and she begins to wonder why her uncle is so keen to be rid of her.
Mysteries start to appear right from the start of the book and as the story progresses the mysteries deepen and an element of suspense is added. The Goldmines are a dangerous place for women however Eliza will not back down, she is outspoken and feisty. Stuart's characterisation is perfect, Eliza is well formed and believable.
The introduction of Alec, a man of honour, Will's friend and mine manager, gives a good balance to the other lecherous men and introduces an element of romance.
The Goldminer's Sister is a fabulous read, rich in mystery and danger, theft and deception, showing how profit quite often came before people's lives.
July 8, 2020
‘One thing I’ve learned after my years out here is that gold is a fever, just like they say. It can change a man.’
The Goldminer’s Sister is a rich historical drama from 1873 set in a fictional gold mining town in the state of Victoria, Australia. The lead character of Eliza Penrose is a fabulously strong and determined woman for her time who pushes on, despite of and against the odds surrounding agitation from the local community and other surprising sources.
This story is engaging on so many levels as both people and location jump off the page and all you want to do is read to the very end. Eliza is a fabulous leading lady for this tale, strong and courageous despite the tragedies that have befallen her. Her determination to pursue the truth is what endears her to the reader and you want her to not only survive but also succeed. The male lead of Alec elicits similar feelings of strength and survival and with a range of secondary characters, likewise realistically portrayed from rich and poor to villain and hero. It makes for riveting reading.
Much research was done with regards to the harsh realities of the time in terms of living conditions, class and gender. The fictional town of Maiden’s Creek is based on a small town in the south east of my state Victoria, Walhalla, and the mining operations that took place there last century. Both the living and working conditions in these mining towns would have been extremely tough and add into the mix dangerous characters and scenarios and it makes for quality reading. This, of course, comes from Alison’s quality writing not only in plot and the rich descriptions of location, but also her factual knowledge with regards to the logistics of mining for that time. However, this is a multidimensional tale and with strong themes of women's rights, working rights, educational rights... even childbirth drama - there is much to appreciate throughout this book.
I was totally engaged and loved reading The Goldminer’s Sister for all of the reasons discussed. With strong themes of love and loss, greed and kindness, mystery and suspense, I am so happy to have discovered Alison’s writing and can’t wait to see what historical adventures she will take her readers on next.
‘You’re an idealist, Eliza,’ Cowper said. ‘You can't save every underprivileged child in the world.’ ‘But she has so much potential,’ Eliza said.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
The Goldminer’s Sister is a rich historical drama from 1873 set in a fictional gold mining town in the state of Victoria, Australia. The lead character of Eliza Penrose is a fabulously strong and determined woman for her time who pushes on, despite of and against the odds surrounding agitation from the local community and other surprising sources.
This story is engaging on so many levels as both people and location jump off the page and all you want to do is read to the very end. Eliza is a fabulous leading lady for this tale, strong and courageous despite the tragedies that have befallen her. Her determination to pursue the truth is what endears her to the reader and you want her to not only survive but also succeed. The male lead of Alec elicits similar feelings of strength and survival and with a range of secondary characters, likewise realistically portrayed from rich and poor to villain and hero. It makes for riveting reading.
Much research was done with regards to the harsh realities of the time in terms of living conditions, class and gender. The fictional town of Maiden’s Creek is based on a small town in the south east of my state Victoria, Walhalla, and the mining operations that took place there last century. Both the living and working conditions in these mining towns would have been extremely tough and add into the mix dangerous characters and scenarios and it makes for quality reading. This, of course, comes from Alison’s quality writing not only in plot and the rich descriptions of location, but also her factual knowledge with regards to the logistics of mining for that time. However, this is a multidimensional tale and with strong themes of women's rights, working rights, educational rights... even childbirth drama - there is much to appreciate throughout this book.
I was totally engaged and loved reading The Goldminer’s Sister for all of the reasons discussed. With strong themes of love and loss, greed and kindness, mystery and suspense, I am so happy to have discovered Alison’s writing and can’t wait to see what historical adventures she will take her readers on next.
‘You’re an idealist, Eliza,’ Cowper said. ‘You can't save every underprivileged child in the world.’ ‘But she has so much potential,’ Eliza said.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
June 19, 2020
‘Out of the way, woman!’
June, 1873. After travelling from England, Eliza Penrose has arrived in the goldmining town of Maiden’s Creek, Victoria. She’s looking to start a new life with her brother, William, whom she’s not seen for five years. But Will does not turn up to meet her, and when she arrives at her uncle Charles Cowper’s home, she discovers why.
Alec McLeod is a mining engineer who came from Scotland to try to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. He’s determined to never fall in love again, despite the best efforts of the single women of Maiden’s Creek.
After their inauspicious first meeting, Alec and Eliza are thrown together. There are dangerous work practices at the Maiden’s Creek Mine, and lives are endangered. There are secrets to be uncovered, and the closer Alec and Eliza get to the truth, the more care they need to take.
I really enjoyed this novel. It is set two years later (and in the same town) as ‘The Postmistress’. Ms Stuart brings her characters to life and doesn’t shy away from demonstrating the hardships of life on the goldfields, especially for women and children. There’s action and romance, and a cast of well-developed minor characters as well.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June, 1873. After travelling from England, Eliza Penrose has arrived in the goldmining town of Maiden’s Creek, Victoria. She’s looking to start a new life with her brother, William, whom she’s not seen for five years. But Will does not turn up to meet her, and when she arrives at her uncle Charles Cowper’s home, she discovers why.
Alec McLeod is a mining engineer who came from Scotland to try to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. He’s determined to never fall in love again, despite the best efforts of the single women of Maiden’s Creek.
After their inauspicious first meeting, Alec and Eliza are thrown together. There are dangerous work practices at the Maiden’s Creek Mine, and lives are endangered. There are secrets to be uncovered, and the closer Alec and Eliza get to the truth, the more care they need to take.
I really enjoyed this novel. It is set two years later (and in the same town) as ‘The Postmistress’. Ms Stuart brings her characters to life and doesn’t shy away from demonstrating the hardships of life on the goldfields, especially for women and children. There’s action and romance, and a cast of well-developed minor characters as well.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
August 2, 2020
Alison Stuart is such a fabulous story teller, this time she has taken us back to 1873 to a town called Maiden’s Creek Victoria were gold is the be all and end all and there are some people who will do anything to make sure they have as much as they can. This is a follow on from The Postmistress and a fabulous one, one I could barely put down, a must read.
Eliza Penrose arrives from England to meet up with her brother William, they have planned to make a new life here running the Shenandoah gold mine close to Maiden’s Creek where William used to run a mine for his uncle Charles Cowper, but sadly the news she arrives to has her changing all of her plans, she is forced to go and stay with her uncle but things don’t appear to be how they should and when she digs deeper there is a mystery that she needs to uncover and there seems to be a lot of betrayal going on and she is determined to get to the bottom of it all.
Alec McLeod is overseeing the Maiden’s Creek mine for Charles Cowper he is a good man who cares about the safety of the workers but when it appears that corners are being ant and his orders overturned he becomes suspicious, he was friends with William Penrose and has now met his sister Eliza a woman determined to get answers, they become friends and allies in the search for the truth and even though after losing one love in the past and is sure he will not love again he can feel his heart opening up to Eliza.
This is a fast paced story that has everything a reader would want, when danger threatens lives Alec and Eliza get closer to protect each other and getting to the truth is not easy, this story is filled with wonderful characters that add so much to the story and of course Alec a hero to die for and Eliza beautiful inside and outside, strong and determined. I loved this one from start to finish it is so well written I felt like I was in Maiden’s Creek. Thank you MS Stuart for another awesome story this is one that I highly recommend, don’t miss this one.
Eliza Penrose arrives from England to meet up with her brother William, they have planned to make a new life here running the Shenandoah gold mine close to Maiden’s Creek where William used to run a mine for his uncle Charles Cowper, but sadly the news she arrives to has her changing all of her plans, she is forced to go and stay with her uncle but things don’t appear to be how they should and when she digs deeper there is a mystery that she needs to uncover and there seems to be a lot of betrayal going on and she is determined to get to the bottom of it all.
Alec McLeod is overseeing the Maiden’s Creek mine for Charles Cowper he is a good man who cares about the safety of the workers but when it appears that corners are being ant and his orders overturned he becomes suspicious, he was friends with William Penrose and has now met his sister Eliza a woman determined to get answers, they become friends and allies in the search for the truth and even though after losing one love in the past and is sure he will not love again he can feel his heart opening up to Eliza.
This is a fast paced story that has everything a reader would want, when danger threatens lives Alec and Eliza get closer to protect each other and getting to the truth is not easy, this story is filled with wonderful characters that add so much to the story and of course Alec a hero to die for and Eliza beautiful inside and outside, strong and determined. I loved this one from start to finish it is so well written I felt like I was in Maiden’s Creek. Thank you MS Stuart for another awesome story this is one that I highly recommend, don’t miss this one.
July 24, 2020
I read and really enjoyed The Postmistress last year by Alison Stuart and this is a connected book, set in the same town and featuring characters that appeared in that previous book. In The Goldminer’s Sister, Eliza Penrose arrives deep into country Victoria where her brother William has been establishing a mine. In communication with Eliza, he has indicated that he believes it will turn the family’s unfortunate finances around and that she should come and join him when she can. However when she arrives, Eliza is met with heartbreak – and mystery.
Despite her uncle’s attempts for her to remove herself to Melbourne as soon as possible, or maybe even Sydney, locations that he feels would be more fitting for a lady like her, Eliza is determined to stay in Maiden’s Creek and find out exactly what happened and the more she digs, the more mystery she finds. She meets Scotsman Alec McLeod, who manages her uncle’s mine and as the two of them become somewhat acquainted, he brings information to her that definitely suggests deception and the possibility of extreme danger. Eliza must be careful for it seems that there are people who will not care what the law says and will stop at nothing to get what they want.
I found this an intriguing story, deepening the circumstances surrounding the Shenandoah mine that began in The Postmistress. Eliza has travelled a long way to join her brother and she’s anticipating a warm and happy reunion. What she gets however, is nothing like that. Eliza makes up her mind to stay in Maiden’s Creek to puzzle out some things that concern her and it doesn’t take her long to become immersed in the local town, teaching at the small school, making friends (and enemies) of the locals and also, forming a friendship with Alec McLeod.
Alec has known loss. He’s known helplessness. And now he’s half a world away from the pain and heartbreak and with his brother Ian, is trying to make a new life, managing a mine. He’s a conscientious person, who values his workers and doesn’t approve of cost cutting over health and safety. When Eliza arrives, Alec knows he has something that belongs to her, despite his sort-of reluctance to give it up. He also knows that it might be dangerous and because of that, he wants to see her protected.
I loved the relationship that formed between Alec and Eliza. Their first meeting doesn’t lend either of them to favour the other but they do manage to put that aside and develop a mutual trust that leads them both to confide the suspicions they have in the other and Alec vows to help her in any way he can. It leads to both of them developing deeper feelings, although Alec is in a bit of denial in some ways. He’s still grieving his terrible loss and it takes him a while to accept that he might be in a place where he can choose happiness for himself.
The mystery in this isn’t unknown – it’s pretty obvious who is doing what and why, it’s being able to get the proof required, dodge the dangers and actually make it public that occupies a lot of the novel. The last third or so, is really fast paced but well done with so much happening, not just to Eliza as she tries to fight for her rights but also with the mine and Alec’s role within it. It’s really unputdownable and I was racing through it, willing everything to come out into the open so that everyone would know what was really happening and who was really responsible.
There are side stories here, characters that the author introduces as seemingly not that important but later on they prove vital for one reason or another or take up a much larger part of the narrative than was anticipated and it makes me wonder if there are future books planned that will also be set in this area. There seemed like several options for future books and I’d definitely be interested in returning.
For those who have read The Postmistress there’s several characters who reappear in this one as well as a fun cameo with Caleb and Adelaide at the end that gives a bit of an indication how they are going. Getting a glimpse of characters I’ve read about before is always one of my favourite things, so I really enjoyed that.
This is an intriguing story well told with characters that are easy to connect with and hope for.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
Despite her uncle’s attempts for her to remove herself to Melbourne as soon as possible, or maybe even Sydney, locations that he feels would be more fitting for a lady like her, Eliza is determined to stay in Maiden’s Creek and find out exactly what happened and the more she digs, the more mystery she finds. She meets Scotsman Alec McLeod, who manages her uncle’s mine and as the two of them become somewhat acquainted, he brings information to her that definitely suggests deception and the possibility of extreme danger. Eliza must be careful for it seems that there are people who will not care what the law says and will stop at nothing to get what they want.
I found this an intriguing story, deepening the circumstances surrounding the Shenandoah mine that began in The Postmistress. Eliza has travelled a long way to join her brother and she’s anticipating a warm and happy reunion. What she gets however, is nothing like that. Eliza makes up her mind to stay in Maiden’s Creek to puzzle out some things that concern her and it doesn’t take her long to become immersed in the local town, teaching at the small school, making friends (and enemies) of the locals and also, forming a friendship with Alec McLeod.
Alec has known loss. He’s known helplessness. And now he’s half a world away from the pain and heartbreak and with his brother Ian, is trying to make a new life, managing a mine. He’s a conscientious person, who values his workers and doesn’t approve of cost cutting over health and safety. When Eliza arrives, Alec knows he has something that belongs to her, despite his sort-of reluctance to give it up. He also knows that it might be dangerous and because of that, he wants to see her protected.
I loved the relationship that formed between Alec and Eliza. Their first meeting doesn’t lend either of them to favour the other but they do manage to put that aside and develop a mutual trust that leads them both to confide the suspicions they have in the other and Alec vows to help her in any way he can. It leads to both of them developing deeper feelings, although Alec is in a bit of denial in some ways. He’s still grieving his terrible loss and it takes him a while to accept that he might be in a place where he can choose happiness for himself.
The mystery in this isn’t unknown – it’s pretty obvious who is doing what and why, it’s being able to get the proof required, dodge the dangers and actually make it public that occupies a lot of the novel. The last third or so, is really fast paced but well done with so much happening, not just to Eliza as she tries to fight for her rights but also with the mine and Alec’s role within it. It’s really unputdownable and I was racing through it, willing everything to come out into the open so that everyone would know what was really happening and who was really responsible.
There are side stories here, characters that the author introduces as seemingly not that important but later on they prove vital for one reason or another or take up a much larger part of the narrative than was anticipated and it makes me wonder if there are future books planned that will also be set in this area. There seemed like several options for future books and I’d definitely be interested in returning.
For those who have read The Postmistress there’s several characters who reappear in this one as well as a fun cameo with Caleb and Adelaide at the end that gives a bit of an indication how they are going. Getting a glimpse of characters I’ve read about before is always one of my favourite things, so I really enjoyed that.
This is an intriguing story well told with characters that are easy to connect with and hope for.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
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July 30, 2020This is my second Alison Stuart novel and I really enjoyed being swept up in the gold rush. The character of Eliza Penrose was very well done. I enjoyed seeing her journey throughout the story, plus the depiction of a strong, intelligent and bold lead in times where women were very often undermined. Alec was a fitting male lead, I enjoyed the cast of support characters and the beautiful bush setting was well depicted.
July 28, 2020
Over the weekend I completed Alison's new novel The Goldminer's Sister. This is stunning work. Pure mystery genius. She has done an incredible amount of research and it sings with detail. I loved it from start to finish-- a real page turner. I give it 5 stars. Highly recommend everyone read it!
November 23, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed The Goldminer's Sister. Engaging characters, gripping story, and I love the way that the author's historical research gets the small details right and gives a realistic sense of everyday life on the goldfields in the 1870s. That's a talent that many authors of historical novels lack.
April 16, 2020
Wow!! An absolutely fantastic story about family, love, loss, greed and mystery. I am so glad that I got the chance to read this book, I absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down.
July 18, 2020
The Goldminer’s Sister by Alison Stuart is a wonderful novel set in the fictional Victorian gold mining town of Maiden’s Creek. The story has it all, love and loss, tragedy, greed and suspense.
As I read I was taken back to the late 1800’s and could imagine the town, the people and the landscape as described throughout the pages of the book.
The story’s main focus is around the arrival of Eliza to the town and her learning of the death of her brother Will. Determine to understand her brothers final days, things don’t add up so the more she digs, lies, deceit and sabotage is uncovered, lives are put at risk and the truth of Wills death will finally be revealed.
The characters have great depth, and you will either love them or despise them, one I particularly despised was Miss Donald who’s treatment of a young school girl had me as angry as Eliza was in the story! The relationships and interactions between the characters are believable and like all small towns, there are the trouble makers, the bullies and the kindhearted.
I loved that there were some Tasmanian’s who’d come to Maiden’s Creek, and lines like these “Not sure whether we Tasmanian’s consider ourselves Australian or not” and “We breed them tough in Tasmania”.
This was a wonderful read, it got 5 stars from me!
Thank you to Harlequin Australia for gifting me a copy to read and review.
As I read I was taken back to the late 1800’s and could imagine the town, the people and the landscape as described throughout the pages of the book.
The story’s main focus is around the arrival of Eliza to the town and her learning of the death of her brother Will. Determine to understand her brothers final days, things don’t add up so the more she digs, lies, deceit and sabotage is uncovered, lives are put at risk and the truth of Wills death will finally be revealed.
The characters have great depth, and you will either love them or despise them, one I particularly despised was Miss Donald who’s treatment of a young school girl had me as angry as Eliza was in the story! The relationships and interactions between the characters are believable and like all small towns, there are the trouble makers, the bullies and the kindhearted.
I loved that there were some Tasmanian’s who’d come to Maiden’s Creek, and lines like these “Not sure whether we Tasmanian’s consider ourselves Australian or not” and “We breed them tough in Tasmania”.
This was a wonderful read, it got 5 stars from me!
Thank you to Harlequin Australia for gifting me a copy to read and review.
July 14, 2020
Wow! This book is special and does not fall short on characters, conflict, or the beautiful historical setting of goldrush Australia. It is completely captivating and definitely one of the best books I've read all year.
Set in 1873 in the fictional gold mining town of Maiden's Creek, Victoria, it is not an easy world or life for anyone, let alone a young woman. Eliza has just docked in Australia from England with plans to reconnect with her brother, only to learn that he has died in a dreadful, suspicious accident. Eliza's situation is dire - she's alone in a new, strange land without a job, money, and only her uncle to take her in. But her uncle is not what he seems and soon it becomes clear that he is behind some devious dealings and that Eliza is not safe in Maiden's Creek.
Luckily, she meets mine engineer Alec McLeod. The romance between Eliza and Alec McLeod is sweet, simmering, and utterly perfect for it's time period. He's a widower and never thought he'd open his heart to love again, content to make himself and his deaf younger brother a good life on the goldfields. But Eliza gets under his skin. Together, they uncover her uncle's scandalous plot, help the other people in Maiden's Creek with their various problems, and save and revolutionise the mine in the process.
The subplots of this story are numerous, well foreshadowed and connected. There is a lot of interesting things going on, yet there's still room for surprising revelations. The secondary characters in this book really stand out, especially the story of Mad Annie and her daughter Charlie. Annie is an outcast and pregnant, deemed a 'whore' by the community. Charlie is a bright young girl who only wants to learn, but doesn't have the welcome opportunity. Until Eliza steps in as a new school teacher to help. Unfortunately, this brings its own complications, which really add to Eliza's likeable character.
In short, this book is amazing. It grips your heart, interest, and keeps you turning pages. Alison Stuart has done a FANTASTIC job. You can read it easily as a standalone or follow on from the Postmistress. If you liked The Postmistress, you'll love this one. It is marvellously written, cleverly plotted, and a fantastic read. Cannot recommend more.
Set in 1873 in the fictional gold mining town of Maiden's Creek, Victoria, it is not an easy world or life for anyone, let alone a young woman. Eliza has just docked in Australia from England with plans to reconnect with her brother, only to learn that he has died in a dreadful, suspicious accident. Eliza's situation is dire - she's alone in a new, strange land without a job, money, and only her uncle to take her in. But her uncle is not what he seems and soon it becomes clear that he is behind some devious dealings and that Eliza is not safe in Maiden's Creek.
Luckily, she meets mine engineer Alec McLeod. The romance between Eliza and Alec McLeod is sweet, simmering, and utterly perfect for it's time period. He's a widower and never thought he'd open his heart to love again, content to make himself and his deaf younger brother a good life on the goldfields. But Eliza gets under his skin. Together, they uncover her uncle's scandalous plot, help the other people in Maiden's Creek with their various problems, and save and revolutionise the mine in the process.
The subplots of this story are numerous, well foreshadowed and connected. There is a lot of interesting things going on, yet there's still room for surprising revelations. The secondary characters in this book really stand out, especially the story of Mad Annie and her daughter Charlie. Annie is an outcast and pregnant, deemed a 'whore' by the community. Charlie is a bright young girl who only wants to learn, but doesn't have the welcome opportunity. Until Eliza steps in as a new school teacher to help. Unfortunately, this brings its own complications, which really add to Eliza's likeable character.
In short, this book is amazing. It grips your heart, interest, and keeps you turning pages. Alison Stuart has done a FANTASTIC job. You can read it easily as a standalone or follow on from the Postmistress. If you liked The Postmistress, you'll love this one. It is marvellously written, cleverly plotted, and a fantastic read. Cannot recommend more.
September 26, 2020
Another easy to read, engaging historical drama by Stuart. I really enjoyed her prior novel, The Postmistress, so I welcomed the follow up book which has the same setting and some familiar characters. It is it’s own story by itself however. It has a good mix of mystery, romance and drama which has strong female leads throughout. Stuart writes good stories which are enjoyable to read knowing that they are loosely based on our history and apart of the very fabric of our nations identity.
August 7, 2020
There's nothing like a good Australian fiction novel to get me out of the doldrums and this one did not disappoint. I was able to get totally immersed in the lives of this goldminer's sister, her exciting problems and the many interesting characters who touched her life. It sure got me to forget about the pandemic, isolation, etc. Two thumbs up.
July 16, 2020
I enjoyed the book so much. A historical set in the late nineteenth century in the countryside of victoria. Story about history, mystery and romance. Overwhelming reading!
July 10, 2020
In the 1850's gold was discovered in various places in Victoria. People left their homes to try their chances to find gold, to set themselves up for life on the basis of that one big find. And if that big find doesn't come today, then it will come tomorrow, or the day after, or when you move to a new mine. Even today, there are people who spend their lives either fossicking in the hope of finding a nugget, or doing large scale mechanical mining in the wilds of places like Alaska. Gold fever! And when you find that big nugget of gold, or hit that seam of gold inside a mountain, then what else is there but to shout Eureka!!
This book takes place a couple of decades later in the 1870's in a fictional town called Maiden's Creek in the north of Victoria. There is no alluvial gold left, but there is underground mining and if you can hit the right seam, there is money to be made, for the owners and the shareholders, and livings made by the hardworking miners.
Eliza Penrose comes to Australia after receiving a letter from her brother to say that he believed that he was on the verge of discovering something big, and when he does, he will no longer be beholden to his uncle who runs the mine at Maidens Creek. Her brother has struck out on his own, and is starting his own mine which looks very promising.
Her heart is soon to be broken as she realises that far from the chance of a new life, she is once again to suffer a bereavement and she is even more alone than before. Her brother has died, leaving most of his estate to his uncle. There are however things that just don't add up about Will's death and it isn't long before she becomes suspicious. While Eliza does have some possibilities of working as a teacher, it isn't that easy to break into the tight knit community, especially when there are inbuilt prejudices against women in such roles.
To read more head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020...
This book takes place a couple of decades later in the 1870's in a fictional town called Maiden's Creek in the north of Victoria. There is no alluvial gold left, but there is underground mining and if you can hit the right seam, there is money to be made, for the owners and the shareholders, and livings made by the hardworking miners.
Eliza Penrose comes to Australia after receiving a letter from her brother to say that he believed that he was on the verge of discovering something big, and when he does, he will no longer be beholden to his uncle who runs the mine at Maidens Creek. Her brother has struck out on his own, and is starting his own mine which looks very promising.
Her heart is soon to be broken as she realises that far from the chance of a new life, she is once again to suffer a bereavement and she is even more alone than before. Her brother has died, leaving most of his estate to his uncle. There are however things that just don't add up about Will's death and it isn't long before she becomes suspicious. While Eliza does have some possibilities of working as a teacher, it isn't that easy to break into the tight knit community, especially when there are inbuilt prejudices against women in such roles.
To read more head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020...
September 26, 2022
The Goldminer's Sister was the sequel to The Postmistress which I read recently, although I think it could just as easily be read as a stand-alone. Set two years later than the first novel, the story once more takes place in the fictional gold mining town, Maiden's Creek, with many of the locals making a reappearance. Eliza Penrose has just arrived from England to visit her brother, only to discover that he recently died in a tragic accident. Determined to understand her brother's final days, Eliza realises that something is very wrong and wants answers, putting her life at risk.
Like The Postmistress, this novel was led by a strong female protagonist who slowly discovers the lies, betrayals and secrets that surround her. The sense of time and place was once again excellent and I enjoyed the daily life of colonial Australia, especially when Eliza was working at the local school.
Filled with action, romance, history and mystery, The Goldminer's Sister was a very enjoyable read.
Like The Postmistress, this novel was led by a strong female protagonist who slowly discovers the lies, betrayals and secrets that surround her. The sense of time and place was once again excellent and I enjoyed the daily life of colonial Australia, especially when Eliza was working at the local school.
Filled with action, romance, history and mystery, The Goldminer's Sister was a very enjoyable read.
July 12, 2020
This is the second book by this author that I have read and have found them both to be excellent reads. After reading a couple of other murder mysteries that took a while to set the scene, this book has you turning the page from page 1. Although it is the second in the series I had no trouble following the characters and setting. The characters are well written and very easy to identify with. There has been a lot of research into the mining industry from 1873 that I found very interesting but not overwhelming. It helped set the scene perfectly. This is a sweet romance with action, struggles of all kinds, mystery and deception. It is an all-round excellent read from an author who knows how to put words on to paper that makes it easy to transport the reader to another time and place. It is lovely to read a historical book not set in England or America. Australia had a special harsh enviorment for people to start a new life and these books give a brilliant insight into how hard it was. I received this as an ARC and was very happy to do my review.
September 22, 2020
Gold is a fever. Will it lead her to love ... or death? A suspenseful romance set on the turbulent goldfields of 1870s Australia, for readers of The Postmistress and The Woman in the Green Dress.
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MY THOUGHTS:
Apart from being very partial to the name McLeod (!!!) I also enjoy books with strong female characters and I loved Eliza.
In 1873, Eliza Penrose arrives in the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek in search of her brother, planning to make a new life for herself. Instead she finds a tragic mystery - and hints of betrayals by those closest to her.
I may also have fallen just a little bit in love with mining engineer, Alec McLeod, who left Scotland to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. Despite the best efforts of the eligible ladies of Maiden's Creek, Alec is determined never to give his heart again.
As lies and deceit threaten Eliza's life, Alec steps in - although he has problems of his own, as he risks his livelihood and those he holds dear to oppose the dangerous work practices at the Maiden's Creek Mine.
When disaster draws the pieces of the puzzle together, Eliza and Alec must save each other - but is it too late?
Find out! Read this Alison Stuart novel. You won't be disappointed.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
______
MY THOUGHTS:
Apart from being very partial to the name McLeod (!!!) I also enjoy books with strong female characters and I loved Eliza.
In 1873, Eliza Penrose arrives in the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek in search of her brother, planning to make a new life for herself. Instead she finds a tragic mystery - and hints of betrayals by those closest to her.
I may also have fallen just a little bit in love with mining engineer, Alec McLeod, who left Scotland to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. Despite the best efforts of the eligible ladies of Maiden's Creek, Alec is determined never to give his heart again.
As lies and deceit threaten Eliza's life, Alec steps in - although he has problems of his own, as he risks his livelihood and those he holds dear to oppose the dangerous work practices at the Maiden's Creek Mine.
When disaster draws the pieces of the puzzle together, Eliza and Alec must save each other - but is it too late?
Find out! Read this Alison Stuart novel. You won't be disappointed.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
September 22, 2020
I enjoyed going back to the mining town again. I loved the opening scene with the almost collision set up between two of the characters in the book. A woman has travelled from Scotland to join her brother, only to find out that he has died. Her uncle takes her in and then tries to help her with gaining a job back in the main city of the colony.
Finally she realises there is more to her brothers death, and things move along to the ned.
I really enjoyed the weaving of the threads and the understanding of the risks of mining. The author managed to keep me hurrying back to read every chance I got around the extra hours I had to work during the lock down thanks to Covid virus.
Finally she realises there is more to her brothers death, and things move along to the ned.
I really enjoyed the weaving of the threads and the understanding of the risks of mining. The author managed to keep me hurrying back to read every chance I got around the extra hours I had to work during the lock down thanks to Covid virus.
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